TWU: “It is well past time Southwest Airlines recognize their value to this airline.”

AURORA, CO – January 4, 2016 – The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has received another key supporter in its ongoing contract negotiations with Southwest Airlines (SWA) and CEO Gary Kelly. The union of SWA Flight Attendants, TWU Local 556, threw its support behind AMFA as they enter into the 53rd month of their contract negotiations with the airline.

The TWU Local 556 Executive Board sent a letter to the AMFA National Director to announce their opposition to the negotiation tactics of SWA’s management and to offer their support to aircraft mechanics. See attached for full version of the letter of support. Below is an excerpt:

“TWU Local 556 stands behind Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) 100% in your struggle to achieve a fair contract, especially given the negotiation tactics employed by Southwest Airlines outlined in AMFA’s recent legal filing. As Flight Attendants, we are responsible for the aircraft in the sky and we rely on our AMFA Brothers and Sisters on the ground to ensure our aircraft are operating safely. It is well past time Southwest Airlines recognized their value to this airline.”

This is the second letter of support that AMFA has received; the first letter of support was received in December from the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association. Having the support of these two key associations on SWA property demonstrates that both pilots and flight attendants believe having highly trained AMFA mechanics maintaining SWA’s planes is invaluable to the safety and quality of the airline as opposed to outsourcing to lower-skilled workers outside of the airline.

AMFA filed suit in December 2016 in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against Southwest Airlines, claiming SWA’s actions violate the Railway Labor Act. At issue are allegations of bad faith bargaining and repeated efforts by SWA to provide false and misleading information directly to their airline mechanics.

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Founded in 1962, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is a craft oriented, independent aviation union. AMFA represents licensed and unlicensed technicians and related employees actively involved in the aviation industry. These technician and related employees work directly on aircraft and/or components, support equipment, and facilities. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing of technicians and to achieving progressive improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled craftsmen and women it represents. For more information about AMFA visit www.amfanational.org.